Tooth Infections
Dental infections can lead to serious problems. In some cases, if left untreated, tooth infections can lead to hospitalization.
Dental infections are usually caused by either the tooth itself or the tissues surrounding the tooth. The good news is most tooth infections can be prevented with proper brushing and flossing.
What can cause a tooth infection?
Most of the time, tooth infections involve the nerve within the tooth itself. The nerve is located in the center of the tooth and continues out through the end of the root. Because of this connection with the rest of your body, when the nerve dies or gets infected, it provides an easy pathway for bacteria to travel to other parts of your body.
Once the bacteria travel to the end of the tooth, they start to eat away the bone supporting both that tooth and the other teeth around it. Eventually this can cause the loss of one or more teeth, it can also cause swelling of the surrounding structures or spaces. The swelling is what can become very serious. Swelling caused by dental infections can be seen in many parts of the face and may proceed under the jaw. Swelling around the jaw and neck can sometimes lead to difficulties in swallowing and breathing.
Often times tooth infections require endodontic therapy. Our doctors and staff have been trained in the latest technology and procedures to perform your root canal in an efficient and predictable manner. By using 3D Cone Beam Imaging technology, our doctors are able to visualize the inside part of your tooth, showing them the best way to perform your endodontic procedure.
